Castor Oil Benefits and Uses for Skin and Hair

Castor oil has natural Anti-Bacterial and Anti-Fungal characteristics that help in the prevention of different types of infections depending upon the method of use and parts of exposed body parts. It has been given the title of Palm of Christ due to its applications that can change one’s life. The following are a few contents of castor oil that make it an outstanding multi-purpose oil.

1. Minerals
2. Vitamin E
3. Proteins
4. Omega 6 and Omega 9 (Good fat)
5. Ricinoleic Acid

What are the Benefits of Castor Oil for Skin, Hair & Health?

1. Treats Acne
2. Anti-Scarring
3. Treats Rashes
4. Anti-Ageing
5. Heals Cracked Lips as a Lip Balm
6. Treatment of Folliculitis and Dandruff
7. Use for Strengthening Hair
8. Use for Hair Growth
9. Use for Eyelashes Growth
10. Use in giving Thickness to Eyebrows
11. Other Benefits of Castor Oil in Hair Care
12. Benefits of Castor Oil for Nails
13. Benefits of Castor Oil as a Laxative
14. Benefits of Castor Oil in Haemorrhoids
15. Use for Labor Induction
16. Benefits in Ovarian Cysts
17. Castor Oil for Massage Purpose
18. Best for Liver Detoxification
19. Castor Oil for Gastrointestinal Disorders
20. Use of Castor Oil in Food and Preservatives
21. Gynaecological Benefits of Castor Oil
22. Use of Castor Oil in Cosmetic Products
23. As an Ingredient of Pharmaceutical Products
24. Decrease Stretch Marks after Acute Weight Loss\Heals Cracked Heels

1. Treatment of Acne:

It can treat mild acne through various mechanisms. It helps lowering sebum content which otherwise leads to acne production when over-produced. It also has Anti-Inflammatory characteristics that control superadded infections and inflammation on Blackheads that is one of the major causes of bad pimples. Not only this, but it also dissolves and removes bacteria, dirt, oil and dead skin cells that could have been the source of pores clogging leading to acne. It also prevents the skin from breakouts. Undercylenic acid disinfects the skin by killing acne-causing bacteria. An article on Live Strong, The Book of “Cosmetic Dermatology: Principles and Practice” explains how mild acne can be treated via castor oil for acne application by lowering inflammation and decreasing sebum in the skin.

2. Anti-Scarring Benefits:

It has Vitamin E, antioxidants, and minerals that promote skin health. Thereby making the castor oil benefits suitable for the Anti-Scarring purpose. It heals acne-scars or scars due to some other traumatic conditions.

3. Is Castor Oil Good for Itchy Skin?

Anti-Inflammatory actions help in the treatment of rashes that may be due to excessive rubbing or any other inflammatory skin condition.

4. Anti-Ageing Effects and Decrease of Stretch Marks:

The overall good health of skin achieved by topical use of castor oil leads to anti-ageing effects, and decrease in stretch marks ( that may be post-partum or as a result of excessive weight loss due to any ailment or simply by work-out and strict dieting), Vitamin E is a major contributor of that though.

5. Cracked Lips and Heals Cure:

Moisturising actions of castor oil for lips are superb due to its viscous oily nature. This can heal cracked lips when used as a lip balm or broke heals when used on feet. It also helps in curing Plantar fasciitis, a painful inflammatory condition of feet.

Can Castor Oil Grow Hair?

It can be used as an excellent hair care product. You can use the oil directly on your hair 2hours prior to:

6. Treatment of Folliculitis and Dandruff:

Anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties of castor are used in the treatment of folliculitis and dandruff. Folliculitis is an inflammatory reaction to infection at the base of hair follicles and can be really painful. The use of castor oil for hair at the base of hair kills those bacteria to provide relief from folliculitis. Dandruff is caused by a dandruff-causing fungus that can also be treated by the use of castor oil at the scalp. It is so benefits in balance maintenance of Sclap pH These properties help in the same way to provide protection from scalp infections. You can add castor oil for antidandruff to your shampoos to strengthen your healthy immune system.

7. Use of Castor Oil in Strengthening Hair:

Vitamin E COMPONENT of castor oil and anti-oxidant properties of castor oil help in supporting Keratin, an important protein. This, in turn, gives strength and smoothness to the hair. This results in fizz free hair after taking a bath. The addition of proteins also gives thickness to the hair.

8. Use for Hair Growth:

The ricinoleic acid component of castor oil for hair increases the circulation of the scalp, balances the scalp pH and increases the growth of hair. So, you end up getting Longer, Thick, Shiny Hair with no Fizz.

Tip:

• Mix with Argan Oil or Jojoba Oil to get more benefits.
• You can spray oil onto your hair for easy and less messy use. For that, you may add a thinner Carrier Oil like grapeseed oil or water to not let the nozzle clog with castor oil as it is thick in the consistency.
• Pour oil on your palm and rub your fingers on it.
• Divide the hair into two parts. Start oiling, using your fingers, from the scalp and bring your fingers down to your tips.
• Even if you have long hair, don’t pour a lot of oil to your hands, as that will be messy. Always take one teaspoon of oil, use it and keep repeating it until you have it on all your hair.
• It works better on damp hair.
• Use one to two times a week.

9. Use for Eyelashes Growth:

Castor oil for eyelashes through its Ricinoleic component and anti-oxidant properties gives length to the eyelashes. For that, you can add castor oil into an empty mascara bottle and apply it to your eyelashes. Leave it there for the whole night and you will notice an increase in the length of lashes.

10. Use in giving Thickness to Eyebrows:

By increasing growth and giving strength to the hair follicles, It gives you healthy eyebrows that you can then mould into any shape. Keratin strengthening also plays an important role in strengthening and thickness of eyebrows.

11. Other Benefits for Hair Care:

It controls premature greying of hair. By strengthening Keratin, it decreases the split ends. In this way you can reverse the loss you bear once you get your hair chemically treated by artificial dyes. This, in turn, saves you from expensive hair treatments.

12. Benefits of Castor Oil for Nails:

The application of castor oil to nails gives healthy cuticles. It is used in the treatment of brittle nails. Take a small cotton bud. Add a few drops of castor oil on it. Apply it gently on your nails with a cotton piece and leave it for the whole night. You will definitely notice a change in the overall look of your nails.

Can you Drink Castor Oil?

13. Benefits of Castor Oil as a Laxative:

Adding a few drops of castor oil in milk can provide you relief from constipation. United States FDA approved it as GRASE (Generally Recognized As Safe and Effective) for the treatment of constipation. It has been used as a laxative since ancient times and is the content of many purgatives available in the market.

14. Benefits of Castor Oil in Haemorrhoids:

Haemorrhoids are actually inflamed blood vessels that may appear externally and tend to bleed on passing stool. Bleeding along with the passage of stools can lead to anaemia and its complications like fatigue, loss of concentration, etc. Haemorrhoids and bleeding associated with the disease have constipation as a major contributor to the overall illness. It ures the cause and also provides relief from haemorrhoids through its topical use. Sometimes, haemorrhoids at their advanced stage (Grade 4) get thrombosed which is a painful condition. By soothing inflammation, It also treats the painful condition of haemorrhoids. You can add a few drops of castor oil in milk or locally apply castor oil using a finger before and after passing stool. It will control the inflammation as well as constipation. This way, castor oil can be used in the non-pharmacological use of castor oil in the treatment of haemorrhoids. In a similar way, it helps in resolving constipation in the painful condition of anal fissures.

15. Use of Castor Oil in Labor Induction:

It has good penetration power. The oil penetrates deep into the skin, blood and lymph vessels to increase the local blood flow. Increased circulation increases the access of hormones to the tissues. Through hormonal effects and its local effects on smooth muscles, it helps in the induction of labour in women who need an intervention due to slow body responses.

16. Use for Massage Purpose:

It has good penetration power. It penetrates deeply to increase circulation and relax the muscles. This property makes it good for massage purposes. Emotional or physical stress? No worries! Now you just need to massage yourself with castor oil to improve your muscular pain symptoms. You can do that on a weekly basis or according to the tone of your muscles and related symptoms.

17. Benefits in Ovarian Cysts:

Ricinoleic acid along with antioxidants strengthens the immune system by increasing lymphocytes. The strong immune system eliminates the toxins out of the body, in general, and specifically on cystic lesions if present in the body. Through this mechanism, ovarian cysts are eliminated out of the body. A lot of women nowadays present in the Gynae clinics with the complaint of infertility, ovarian cysts being the cause of many.

18. Castor Oil Packs:

The Doctors Book of Home Remedies in its 1990 version introduces castor oil for pain and inflammation relief. The idea of using castor oil packs on patients is so beneficial to health. It is becoming a general practice of many clinicians to use and recommend castor oil packs for pain management and many other disorders. Though it’s hard to encompass all the uses of castor oil in one article, a few of many are listed below though;

• Application on sprains or other soft tissue injuries.
• Use on joints for arthritis or other structural issues causing pain.
• It used for the cure of swollen lymph nodes and for support of lymphatic system including lymph vessels, spleen, and thymus.
• Calming effect and emotional support by specifically applying on the abdomen and solar plexus.
• For support of lungs in respiratory diseases like asthma, pneumonia and pulmonary oedema.
• Use in dealing with menstrual cramps affecting the daily routine of women having periods.
• Use for benign breast lumps like cysts causing discomfort

Do not use Castor Oil in:

• Pregnant Women
• Open Wounds
• Malignant Tumour

19. Use for Liver Detoxification:

Castor oil, with its antioxidants and Ricinoleic acid, do toxins eradication and supports the liver in the detoxification function. Many patients get an improvement in symptoms of toxification by the use of castor oil. It even gives benefits to patients with Lyme disease.

20. Castor Oil for Gastrointestinal Disorders:

Not only it deals with constipation but it also Improves digestions and other GIT issues including colon, gall bladder, liver. A few drops of castor oil mixed with water or milk can strengthen the digestive system by increasing the efficacy of its muscles.

21. Use in Food and Preservatives:

Castor oil can also be used for baking purposes. It adds flavour to candies and other bakery products. It is used for packaging purposes due to its good preservative potential. In Indo-Pak, it is widely used in the preservation of food grains as it prevents them from rotting.

22. Use in Cosmetic Products:

It is known to be a hydrating agent used in many cosmetic products. It is used as a natural emollient with good conditioning effects. It can be applied on lips before the application of lipstick to help it soak and give a glossy look. It acts as a lubricant in many other cosmetic products. In other words, if you want to make your make-up look naturally shiny or glossy, just add a few drops of castor oil to it and enjoy the results.

23. As an Ingredient of Pharmaceutical Products:

It is seen in the ingredients of many pharmacological products. It potentiates their strength of functioning as it shares healing properties with those medicines. Following are a few medicines containing castor oil as an ingredient:

• Miconazole: Anti-fungal drug
• Tacrolimus: immunosuppressive drug for eczema and other similar problems
• Paclitaxel: chemotherapy drug
• Optive plus: eye dro